Apparatus for flaring edges of circular openings

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for flaring the edges of circular openings in sheets of metal includes a drive shaft coaxial with the opening, one or more flaring rolls engageable with the periphery of the opening and means for supporting the flaring rolls for revolution by the shaft, comprising a table rotatable by the shaft and antifriction flaring roll support means carried by the table and movable radially thereof, and mechanism actuated by the shaft for moving the flaring roll radially of the table on the antifriction means.

[ Dec. 9, 1975 3/l95l 72/l23 l/l973 Breidert et 72/123 ABSTRACT 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-F. Travers Burgess Apparatus for flaring the edges of circular openings in sheets of metal includes a drive shaft coaxial with the --0pening. one or more flaring rolls engageable with the periphery of the opening and means for supporting the flaring rolls for revolution by the shaft, comprising a table rotatable by the shaft and antifriction flaring roll support means carried by the table and movable radially thereof, and mechanism actuated by the shaft for 7 moving the flaring roll radially of the table on the antifriction means.

Memphis. Tenn.

Memphis, Tenn.

72/l22, I23. I25

ll't Z j 1 1 .INIII/llllllll nj" 5 v M 7 M H h 3 I 7 M 6 85 6 W 5 a I 5 a 5 0 Illl'n' 1 [flu-W n W o d 1 5 Q 7 |IW|11l||1||||11| F N 5 2 15 1 APPARATUS FOR mrunc mass or CIRCULAR OPENINGS [75] Inventor: Daniel J. Yarnold, [73] Assignee: Memphis Metal Mlnuheturln Company, Inc., [22] Filed: Feb. 25, I975 [21 1 Appl. No.: 552,988

[52] US. Cl. [5i] lnt. [58] Field of [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 236.285 l/l88l Wilbur l.597.575 8/1926 Bowman United States Patent 1191 Yarnold ///'l/Il/I/l/l/ U.S. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 10f2 3,924,432

US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 2 of2 APPARATUS FOR FLARING EDGES OF CIRCULAR OPENINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to metal forming apparatus, particularly to apparatus for flaring circular openings such as those in venturi frames for use in ventilating fans and the like by the use of rotating flaring rolls.

2. The Prior Art In Chesley T. Small US. Pat. No. 2,545,976, the flaring rolls are carried by radially movable slides mounted on a spider rotated by the driving shaft of the machine, the slides being movable radially by rotation of the drive shaft and being supported by friction shoes 21 sliding on a fixed horizontal platform. Radial movement of the flaring rolls is accomplished by connecting their supports through toggle arms to a sleeve vertically slidable on the drive shaft, which is moved vertically thereon by coaction of the threaded upper end of the drive shaft with a threaded sleeve thereon. For holding the collar against rotation with thedrive shaft, a two part clamp surrounds a friction bushing on the threaded sleeve and may be selectively held against ro tation by engagement of bars inserted in the clamp with stationary parts of the machine so that rotation of the shaft drives the threaded sleeve downwardly to cause the flaring rolls to move outwardly to the desired diameter of the flared opening, at which time the drive shaft may be selectively reversed to cause upward movement of the threaded sleeve and retraction of the flaring rolls. For holding the work on the work-supporting bed plate a vertically movable clamping plate actuated by screw jacks is provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides an improved machine for flaring the edges of openings in metal sheets in which the operation of the flaring rolls is improved by the provision of a table underlying their spider and rotatable with the drive shaft and of antifriction rollers on the flaring roll-supporting slides resting on the rotatable table and movable radially thereof, thus greatly reducing the friction drag on the machine.

The invention also provides improved means for moving the flaring rolls radially, comprising an inter nally threaded collar threadably engaging the threaded upper end of the drive shaft and formedwith upstanding ears engageable with slots on the lower end of the drive shaft upper bearing, which is nonrotatable but vertically movable, and is connected by a connecting collar and thrust bearing to a sleeve slidably movable on the drive shaft which in turn is connected by toggle links to the flaring roll-supporting slides, so that as the collar moves downwardly or upwardly on the drive shaft, the flaring rolls are moved radially outwardly or inwardly.

The invention also provides means for automatically limiting the radial outward movement of the flaring rolls, comprising a switch in the drive motor control circuit, an actuator for positioning the switch to reverse position, and an element adjustably mounted on the drive shaft vertically movable upper bearing member for engagement with the switch actuator when the flaring rolls have moved outwardly to a predetermined diameter and the threaded drive collar and upper bearing member have descended a corresponding distance.

2 Hydraulic cylinder and piston devices are provided for raising and lowering a clamping plate for clamping the work sheet to the work-supporting bed plate.

Improved means are also provided for varying the speed of the drive shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the complete apparatus. 1

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view along line 22 of FIG. 1. I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the upper portion of the drive shaft and the lower portion of its upper bearing member.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the upper portion of the apparatus showing the upper bearing member and automatic reversal mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The framing of the apparatus includes a rectangular base with sides 1. A platform 3 is supportedv above the base by two uprights 5 at opposite sides of the base and by uprights 7 at the corners of the base. Supported from, and spaced above platform 3, is a work-supporting bed plate 9 having a central opening for receiving parts of the sheet-forming mechanism.

A work sheet 11, from which a fan frame is to be formed, having a central opening, is held to bed plate 9 by a clamping plate 13 which is provided with a circular opening of slightly less diameter than the opening in bed plate 9. Associated with clamping plate 13 are hydraulic pistons 15 and cylinders 16 mounted on the top of the machine framing for selectively holding plate 13 in work-clamping position or raising it to inoperative position shown in FIG. 1. I

The work-forming mechanism includes a vertica shaft 17 journaled in the base of the machine and driven by motor 19 which is connected by means of speed reducer 21 with the pinion carrying drive shaft 23. Bevel pinion 25 on shaft 23 meshes with driving gear 27 on shaft 17 for driving the latter. A thrust bearing 29 supported on bottom framing members 1 holds shaft 17 against vertical movement during operation of the machine.

A circular table 31 is fixed to shaft 17 above platform 3 and is rotatably supported thereon by a group of cir-' cumferentially spaced rollers journaled on axes radial with respect to shaft 17 in brackets 35 mounted on platform 3.

A circular spider 37 is secured to shaft 17 above table 31 and has three radial arms 39 arranged 120 apart. Slides 41 are slidably mounted in arms 39 for radial movement therein. Each slide 41 is provided at its outer end with a supporting roller 43 resting on table 3 and carries an upright spindle 45 for journaling a forming roll 47 having a concave face arranged to engage the portion of work sheet 11 adjacent the periphery of its circular opening. Each slide 41 is also formed at its inner end with an upstanding support 49 having an upper radial extension 51 to which the upper end of spindle 45 is secured.

Bifurcated toggle arms 53 each pivoted at its bifurcated end to opposite sides of one of the three roll spindle supports 49 and at the other end to a sleeve element 55 slidable on shaft 17, are utilized to slide the slides 41 in spider arms 39 toward or away from shaft 17, de-

pending upon the direction the sleeve is moved.

The upper end of shaft 17 is journaled in a vertically movable bearing 57 which may be shifted with the aid of counterweight 58 by a handwheel shaft 59 (FIG. 3) and associated gear and rack 61 between the position shown above the upper end of shaft 17 to permit the work sheet to be passed transversely of the shaft axle and between bearing 57 and the upper end of shaft 17 and then downwardly over shaft 17 and forming rolls 47 and a lower operative position. The upper end of shaft 17 is threaded at 62 to a drive collar 63 formed with upstanding diametrally spaced ears 65 adapted for engagement in apertures 67 in flange 69 on the lower end of bearing member 57 when the latter is lowered into operating position. When ears 65 are engaged with apertures 67 in flange 69, collar 63 is held against rotation and due to its threaded engagement with shaft 17, it advances downwardly and, through a connecting collar 71 and thrust bearing 73 forces sleeve 55 downwardly and, through arms 53 and supports 49, forces rolls 47 away from shaft 17.

For limiting the outward movement of flaring rolls 47 to the desired diameter of the opening, a microswitch 77 ismounted on the top portion of the framing and is connected to motor 19 so as to reverse the latter when actuated. For actuating microswitch 77 a lever 79 is fulcrumed at 81 on the framing and mounts a follower roller 83 on its free end. An actuator bar 85 extends through bracket 87 on upper bearing member 57 and is adjustably secured thereto at selected heights by means of clamps so that when the flaring rolls reach the desired diameter of the opening in the work, and bearing member 57 has descended to the height corresponding to this diameter, the tapered tip 91 of bar 85 engages follower roller 83 on microswitch operating lever 79, thereby actuating microswitch 77 to the motor-reversing position. As motor 19 operates in reverse, the threaded relation between collar 63 and shaft 17 returns the flaring rolls 47 to their initial position adjacent the shaft.

Each forming roll spindle 45 is journaled in its slide 41 and support extension 51 for free rotation and its vertical curvature conforms with the desired shape of the venturi orifice to be formed in the work sheet to produce a fan frame.

In operation, clamping plate 13 and shaft bearing 57 are elevated respectively by hydraulic piston-cylinder assemblies 15, 16 and by manual rotation of pinion shaft 59 to a level above the upper end of shaft 17. A flat work sheet, provided with a central circular opening, is inserted edgewise beneath bearing 57 and clamping plate 13 and the sheet lowered over shaft 17 onto bed plate 9. The periphery of the circular opening in the sheet will come to rest on the lower portion of rolls 47 which are positioned radially of shaft 17 to engage the periphery of the sheet opening and center the sheet. Lowering of bearing member 57 until flange aperture 67 engages ears 65 on collar 63 and rotation of shaft 17 then moves sleeve 55 downwardly and shifts rolls 47 radially of shaft 17 until the sheet is centered. Then clamping plate 13 is lowered to clamp the work sheet between bed plate 9 and clamping plate 13 and securely hold the work sheet against rotation about shaft 17 and against buckling.

Shaft 17 and spider 37 and slides 41, carrying the rolls, are then rotated by motor 19. Since collar member 63 is held by shaft bearing flange 69 against rotation at the same speed as shaft 17 and therefore due to its threaded engagement with shaft 17, moves down- 4 wardly and actuates sleeve 55 carrying toggle arms 53 downwardly and these arms gradually advance flaring rolls 41 radially outwardly against the sheet material of the opening in the work forcing the material to advance upwardly along the contour of forming rolls 47 to form the desired flared section.

The radial motion of the flaring rolls can be continued until the material of the sheet has been forced to the top of the flaring rolls or to any intermediate position, depending upon the desired length of the flare. The rate of movement of the flaring rolls radially during the flaring operation depends upon the speed of shaft 17. The drive shaft may be operated at any desired speed during the flaring operation, rolls 47 being free to rotate on their supporting spindles.

As collar 63 moves downwardly by reason of its threaded engagement with shaft 17, upper shaft bearing member 57 also moves downwardly until the tip 91 of actuator bar engages roller 83 on microswitch operating lever 81, thereby actuating microswitch 77 to reverse motor 19, causing drive collar 63, connecting collar 71, thrust bearing 93 and sleeve 55 to rise, thereby acting through toggle arms 53 to retract slides 41 and flaring rolls 47. Hydraulic cylinders 16 are then activated to raise clamping plate 13 to a higher level than ears 65 on drive collar 63 and handwheel shaft 59 is rotated to raise upper bearing member 57 to its uppermost position, permitting the work sheet to be lifted off bed plate 9.

The axis of the flared portion will coincide with the center of the original circular opening in the sheet. A single machine can form frames having a wide variety of orifice diameter, the diameter depending upon the original opening made through the sheet and the extent of radial motion of the forming rolls brought about by holding collar 63 against rotation.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for flaring the part of a sheet of metal surrounding a circular opening therein including a.

drive shaft coaxial with the opening, a flaring roll engageable with the edge of the metal defining the opening, means supporting said flaring roll for revolution by said shaft, a table rotatable by said shaft and flaring roll mounting means carried by said supporting means and by said rotatable table and movable radially thereof, said flaring roll support means having antifriction elements supporting the same on said table, and mechanism actuated by said shaft for applying force to said flaring roll and move it radially of said table on said antifriction means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including stationary framing and a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers with their axes radial of said shaft supported from said framing below said table and underlyingly engaging said table.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including stationary framing, a work-supporting bed plate supported by said framing adjacent the lower portion of said flaring roll and formed with a circular aperture concentric with said shaft, a similarly apertured work-clamping plate, vertical hydraulic cylinders mounted on said framing above the upper end of said shaft and having vertically movable pistons connected at their lower ends to said clamping plate for lowering it into and raising it out of clamping engagement with a sheet of metal resting on said bed plate.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said shaft is supported at its lower end on a thrust bearing below said rotatable table and terminates above said flaring roll, there being an upper bearing member for said shaft vertically movably and nonrotatably supported from said framing at a level spaced upwardly from the upper end of said shaft, and coacting means on said framing and said bearing member for manually moving said bearing member toward and away from the upper end of said shaft.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shaft has a threaded portion and said mechanism comprises an internally threaded collar threadably mounted on said shaft, a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft, link means connecting said sleeve with said flaring roll sup- .port means, thrust transmitting means connecting said internally threaded collar to said sleeve, and means for preventing rotation of said threaded collar with said shaft whereby to cause movement of said collar axially of said shaft.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a vertically movable nonrotatable bearing member adapted to receive the upper end of said shaft and being movable axially thereof with said collar, said rotation preventing means comprising interengaging elements on said bearing member and said collar.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said bearing member is formed with an annular flange at its lower end having an aperture in it and said collar is formed with an upwardly directed ear engaging said flange aperture.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said flange has a pair of said apertures spaced diametrally thereof and said collar has a pair of similarly spaced ears.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 including a motor drivingly connected to said shaft, means for reversing the direction-of said motor, and means for actuating said reversing means responsive to predetermined downward movement of said shaft bearing member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said actuating means comprises an element mounted on said shaft for vertical adjustment thereon, a second element having a stationary mount and adapted for engagement by said bearing member mounted element.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said second element is a lever having a stationary fulcrum intermediate its ends and said reversing means includes an electric switch actuated by one end of said lever.

12. Apparatus for flaring the part of a sheet of metal surrounding a circular opening therein including a drive shaft coaxial with the opening, a flaring roll engageable with the edges of the metal defining the opening, means supporting said flaring roll for revolution by said shaft and movement radially thereof, said shaft having a threaded portion, a collar threadably mounted on said threaded portion, means for preventing rotation of said collar with said shaft whereby to cause movement of said collar axially of said shaft, means responsive to axial movement of said collar on said shaft for moving said flaring roll radially of said shaft, a bearing member for said shaft movable axially thereof with said collar, a motor drivingly connected to said shaft, means for reversing the direction of said motor, and means for actuating said reversing means responsive to predetermined downward movement of said shaft bearing member.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said bearing member is formed with an annular flange at its lower end having an aperture in it and said collar is formed with an upwardly directed ear engaging said flange aperture.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said flange has a pair of said apertures spaced diametrally thereof and said collar has a pair of similarly spaced ears. 

1. Apparatus for flaring the part of a sheet of metal surrounding a circular opening therein including a drive shaft coaxial with the opening, a flaring roll engageable with the edge of the metal defining the opening, means supporting said flaring roll for revolution by said shaft, a table rotatable by said shaft and flaring roll mounting means carried by said supporting means and by said rotatable table and movable radially thereof, said flaring roll support means having antifriction elements supporting the same on said table, and mechanism actuated by said shaft for applying force to said flaring roll and move it radially of said table on said antifriction means.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including stationary framing and a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers with their axes radial of said shaft supported from said framing below said table and underlyingly engaging said table.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including stationary framing, a work-supporting bed plate supported by said framing adjacent the lower portion of said flaring roll and formed with a circular aperture concentric with said shaft, a similarly apertured work-clamping plate, vertical hydraulic cylinders mounted on said framing above the upper end of said shaft and having vertically movable pistons connected at their lower ends to said clamping plate for lowering it into and raising it out of clamping engagement with a sheet of metal resting on said bed plate.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said shaft is supported at its lower end on a thrust bearing below said rotatable table and terminates above said flaring roll, there being an upper bearing member for said shaft vertically movably and nonrotatably supported from said framing at a level spaced upwardly from the upper end of said shaft, and coacting means on said framing and said bearing member for manually moving said bearing member toward and away from the upper end of said shaft.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shaft has a threaded portion and said mechanism comprises an internally threaded collar threadably mounted on said shaft, a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft, link means connecting said sleeve with said flaring roll support means, thrust transmitting means connecting said internally threaded collar to said sleeve, and means for preventing rotation of said threaded collar with said shaft whereby to cause movement of said collar axially of said shaft.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a vertically movable nonrotatable bearing member adapted to receive the upper end of said shaft and being movable axially thereof with said collar, said rotation preventing means comprising interengaging elements on said bearing member and said collar.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said bearing member is formed with an annular flange at its lower end having an aperture in it and said collar is formed with an upwardly directed ear engaging said flange aperture.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said flange has a pair of said apertures spaced diametrally thereof and said collar has a paIr of similarly spaced ears.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 6 including a motor drivingly connected to said shaft, means for reversing the direction of said motor, and means for actuating said reversing means responsive to predetermined downward movement of said shaft bearing member.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said actuating means comprises an element mounted on said shaft for vertical adjustment thereon, a second element having a stationary mount and adapted for engagement by said bearing member mounted element.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said second element is a lever having a stationary fulcrum intermediate its ends and said reversing means includes an electric switch actuated by one end of said lever.
 12. Apparatus for flaring the part of a sheet of metal surrounding a circular opening therein including a drive shaft coaxial with the opening, a flaring roll engageable with the edges of the metal defining the opening, means supporting said flaring roll for revolution by said shaft and movement radially thereof, said shaft having a threaded portion, a collar threadably mounted on said threaded portion, means for preventing rotation of said collar with said shaft whereby to cause movement of said collar axially of said shaft, means responsive to axial movement of said collar on said shaft for moving said flaring roll radially of said shaft, a bearing member for said shaft movable axially thereof with said collar, a motor drivingly connected to said shaft, means for reversing the direction of said motor, and means for actuating said reversing means responsive to predetermined downward movement of said shaft bearing member.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said bearing member is formed with an annular flange at its lower end having an aperture in it and said collar is formed with an upwardly directed ear engaging said flange aperture.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said flange has a pair of said apertures spaced diametrally thereof and said collar has a pair of similarly spaced ears. 